DPR Marks 10 Years with New Corporate Office

“Tumbleweeds” named after deceased rock stars. A central computer hub encased in glass. A futuristic stairway and a sheer curtain that hangs down two floors. A new corporate office for a truly great construction company.

Marking its 10th anniversary and responding to a need for additional space, DPR recently completed its 54,000-sq.-ft., three-story Redwood City, CA, corporate office, dubbed “DPR Corner,” and moved a few miles south on Highway 101 from its former Redwood Shores space. DPR is occupying the top two floors and leasing out the first.

Built from the ground-up, DPR Corner presented several challenges for the DPR project team, especially the owner’s aggressive nine-month schedule. Construction kicked off in August 1999 with a move-in set for May 2000. No excuses.

“Like all of our projects, we wanted to get the building finished on time and within the designated cost parameters,” noted DPR Project Manager Osman Chao. “Consequently, we all wore multiple hats, which contributed to the success of the project.”

The building, designed by DES Architects, with a core and shell drawings by The Hagman Group, provides the ideal stage for DPR’s modern interior landscape. Callison Architecture, which has designed several West Coast offices for DPR, gave the new headquarters a “makeover,” updating the DPR look with a fresh color scheme and distinctive wall finishes. “We wanted to retain the open-office environment that DPR is known for, while creating a unique look that showcases DPR’s innovative nature,” said Callison Associate Principal Michael Medina.

Scattered throughout the office, like “tumbleweeds,” are six meeting/work spaces for one to six people (fully equipped with data ports, phones and banquette seating). But these “tumbleweeds” serve another purpose. “We wanted to offer a resource for parents, who on some days may need to bring their kids to work,” said DPR’s Peter Nosler. “The design of these rooms provides enough space for people to work and for their kids to rest or play.”

The new headquarters incorporates other unique features, such as:

• distinctive wall finishes and lighting that create a “Japanese lantern” effect
• a full-wall display of DPR’s central computer hub, separated from the third-floor lobby by glass, and
• an industrial-like stairway connecting the second and third floor “village green” areas that provide casual, adaptable space for work and company functions.

“This space is unlike any other,” noted Callison Principal Jim Rothwell. “DPR understands the importance of incorporating its innovative office culture into the design of its workspace.”